by Sports Xchange

--3B Michael Young was named the Rangers' Player of the Year for 2009 by the local chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Young, who moved from shortstop to third base for 2009, batted .322 with 22 homers and 68 RBIs in 135 games. It's the fourth time Young has won the award, tied for the second most in club history.

--LHPs Michael Kirkman and Zach Phillips were added to the Rangers' 40-man roster in anticipation of the Rule 5 draft during December's winter meetings. Kirkman, 23, overcame some significant control issues in the last 18 months and compiled a 9-8 record and 3.48 ERA between Class A Bakersfield and Class AA Frisco. Phillips, also 23, converted from starting to relief in 2009 and went 2-3 with a 1.39 ERA in 36 appearances for Bakersfield and Frisco. The moves gave the Rangers 37 players on the 40-man roster.

--New hitting instructor Clint Hurdle has started contacting Rangers hitters for get-to-know-you conversations. Hurdle will be in Texas the first week of December to start working with local hitters and again during the first week of January. Hurdle will conduct a hitting minicamp later in January as the Rangers try to repurpose their offense to be more efficient.

BY THE NUMBERS: 0 -- Cy Young Award winners the Rangers have had in the 38 years since they moved to Texas. No Texas pitcher received a vote in this year's Cy Young balloting either. The Rangers have had five MVPs in those 38 years.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "You always want to be around the best players, and I love the way he plays. You want to suit up with winners, and he's a winning player. To see him slip away is disappointing." -- 3B Michael Young, on the possibility of the Rangers losing free agent OF Marlon Byrd, who was set to start negotiating with other clubs.